Consequently
conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth 1 Peter 1:17
In Fear – A graduate student made the following insightful remark in class: “Faith is not believing in spite of the evidence. Faith is obeying in spite of the consequence.” That’s worth reading again. Too often we are told that faith is a matter of blind leaps. In our Greek view, faith is a function of the mind, a cognitive assertion of commitment even if we don’t have the evidence to back it up. Of course, that is not the biblical view at all. The Bible rests firmly on real evidence. Biblical faith is not blind belief; in fact, it is just the opposite. Over and over God demonstrates His earthly reality and over and over the Bible says that the man who “believes” what is not true is really lost. The problem is separating truth from fiction, and when the whole culture wants to treat spiritual truth and biblical revelation as fiction, it is the culture that is deluded, not the biblical adherent.
Nevertheless, even if we see the fallacy in the argument that faith is blind to evidence, we still have not discovered the heart of biblical faith. Biblical faith is obeying in spite of the consequence. It is not rooted in cognitive arguments and logical conclusions, even if it stands up very nicely in debate. Ultimately the biblical revelation for men is about obedience. It is about trusting in the guidance, direction and legislation of God. That is not the same as saying that our salvation depends on our efforts. Salvation is God’s act, not ours. But from the moment we feel the tug of the Spirit, we are called to a grateful display of obedience. Why? Because obedience sets things right after I have been redeemed. It aligns me with God’s purposes so that I may enjoy His delight and favor and, at the same time, fulfill His purposes as a blessing to others. Without obedience there is nothing to show for God’s grace in my life. The flip-side of the coin of salvation is obedience. One without the other is stultifying disappointment.
This insight focuses our attention on the inevitable rejection of a world gone mad. Faithful followers of the Way are going to have conflict in this world. Faith is persevering anyway. If the threat of consequences diverts my obedience, I haven’t understood the character of God. I haven’t come to terms with my own lack of trust. There’s a reason why Peter uses the Greek en phobo. It is an important reminder. God is not my good buddy. He is the sovereign Lord of the universe. Peter tells us that He judges every man impartially according to that man’s production. That’s a rather scary thought. God holds up the standard of holiness and asks me to conduct my life accordingly. I should be afraid. What I do has eternal consequences.
The current ecclesiological message of familiarity with God skirts idolatry. Whenever men encounter the living God, they are stuck with a fear that nearly paralyzes them. They see in a blinding moment their unworthiness. They know at the very core of their being that they deserve nothing but shame and disgrace. Amazingly (with grace), God doesn’t treat us that way, but the fact that He doesn’t does not make it less certain that He should. In this sense, fear is at the very heart of belief. The less we pay attention to the unbridgeable chasm between the holy God and our sinful souls, the less we will recognize the impossible wonder of grace. And the less we will be inclined to conduct ourselves in fear.
Topical Index: Faith
